Uniontown wrestling preview
Jenkins wants alma mater to become more competitive The Uniontown wrestling team is under the direction of former Red Raider Mark Jenkins this year after spending the last several years developing the elementary program and working with the junior high schools. Jenkins, a 1985 graduate of Uniontown, hopes that other former Raiders helping with the program will help make the program more competitive.
“We’ve had some good individuals over the years, but, as a team, I don’t think we’ve been competitive,” he said. “Our youth programs and junior high are showing a lot of progress. If we can keep most of those kids in the system over the next couple of years, the wrestling program will be in good shape.”
Jenkins has made the program a family affair with former Raider wrestlers coming back to help with the program. Among the assistants is Jenkins’ high school teammate and former state champion, Jeff Spinetti. Others helping with the program include Jason King, Jonathan Guth, and Dave Herring.
“We all have something in common in that with the exception of Dave, we all wrestled for Jerry Simon, who did a great job with the program for a number of years,” he said. “Dave who does a great job with the kids on the mountain goes back a little further, because he wrestled in the seventies for coach Joe Yourchak.”
Jenkins said it’s a little tougher at the junior high level because of distance. The kids in the city practice at the high school, while Herring controls the mountain, but they all come together for matches and are doing a great job.
Jenkins says he comes into the season with kids that have wrestling experience. He says he doesn’t have a lot of seniors, but they have been with the program for a couple of years, and will be counted on to score points.
Included in that group is Willie Carpeal, who wrestled at heavyweight. He will spend some time that weight, but is expected to be in the 215-pound weight class at the end of the season, which is more of natural fit, according to Jenkins.
Other seniors are Derek Brangard (160-171), Brittany Kulenovic (119), and Adam Franks (125-130). Jenkins said Brangard has really put in a lot of work during the off-season, and should have a solid year.
Among the juniors are K.J. Carpeal (152), Levi Merschat (189), Alex Panos (160), and Charles Mills (145-152).
“Charles did a good job for us at the junior high level, but didn’t get much time last season because he was behind senior Tyler Holt,” Jenkins said. “We’re looking for him to really step up and play a big role for us.”
The sophomores include Joe Hlavach (130-135), D’lavell Eilam (145-152), Brian Perkins (189-215), Jonathon Sakagudi (215-285), Rick Wilburn (215-285), and Nathan Spinetti (215-285).
Jenkins points out that he has some good kids bunched together in the middle to upper weights. His big concern is not having lightweights to fill out the lineup.
Jenkins said he and his staff are focusing on doing the basic things well. He noted some of the top wrestlers around the country aren’t too fancy. They’re always in top condition and perfect their basic moves, which is what he wants for his program.
Jenkins is hoping his schedule will prepare Uniontown for the tournaments at the end of the season. The Red Raiders will compete in a couple of dual-meet tournament and several other tournaments during the year. They only have four dual meets all coming against Section 2-AAA opponents: Connellsville, Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon and Laurel Highlands.
“We respect all of these teams but we’re not backing down and we’ll go after them as hard as we can,” Jenkins said. “We open the season at the Chartiers-Houston tournament. That will give us an good indication on where we need to improve.”